The Supreme Judicial Council said
the trial against Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi will begin as planned on
Thursday, but only three
of more than 150 cases tied to Hashemi will be addressed.

Last December, as the United States withdrew from Iraq,
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki charged the top Sunni politician with ties to
terrorism, including an attack
later claimed by al-Qaeda in Iraq. Hashemi denied all charges, saying that
political motivation was behind the accusations.

He fled to Kurdistan to avoid capture and is now in Turkey.
Although Hashemi has said he would like
to take part in a trial, he feels the judiciary in Baghdad is tainted by
Maliki and could not provide a fair one. Interpol has been asked to arrest Hashemi.